One way or the other?

[Rector_Ras]

After the events on his home world Andrew wondered the Galaxy for nearly two months, deciding only where to go by looking at the next shuttle leaving the planet he was on, Paying for his food and travels with the money his Government had given him. Some places he had stayed for only a day or two like Tatooine, there was nothing there. Other places like Anaxes were places with huge magnificent buildings, with anything you could possibly want to do and more. He only left when he heard about the sith competition that was going to happen the following week. Sith activity would pick up and he had never met a sith, he had no idea how to act around them. Of course today he would meet a sith. Or maybe an Imperial? Who knew, they could have sent a Gizka or nothing at all. It was merely hope that someone from both sides of this war would show.

The sith were easy to find. The Imperium had people everywhere, getting a message into the hierarchy was as simple as watching an acolyte on Anexes log into the system, watching his password and then logging in as him and posting the message in as many places possible. He had even heard some of the Imperial soldiers talking about the message a few days after he had set it up. The sith would no doubt at least send someone to arrest him right?

The rebels or jedi, whatever group had gotten his message if any did at all where a lot harder to track down. He spent nearly two weeks on a couple planets tracking down leads and looking into anybody who might have a connection to one of the groups in hiding. He finally found a man he though was likely to have one but he of course denied it and so Andrew had simply left a message with the guy and said "Send that to them please. I don't need to meet them, or even know how you can talk with them. I just need them to get this." The guy seemed to have given a look of acknowledgment but that was all. No words or actions that said he would do it, a smart move seeing as if he was found by a smart kid the Imperials where already watching him. Of course that made it all the more unlikely he could send it. The boy could only simply hope he had.

The messages to both groups where fairly simple. They contained a place, date and time. With a simple message of "1 person alone don't look like a sith" or in the case of a jedi getting the message "jedi" Hopefully neither group would know the other might be in attendance.

He sat on a bench on the planet Naboo in the market. There was a statue across from him and that was the meeting point of the meeting. He fit into the crowed here of mostly Humans and his clothing was from the shop just down the street. His eyes looking down to his Data pad reading about some of the events going on in the world, looking up only now and then to see if either group had arrived.

 

[Clayton]

Rook's J-15B Aethersprite touched down on Naboo an hour after the advance party, although "party" might be a strong word for one plain-clothed soldier stationed in a second-story, darkened room with a view of the market, armed with a standard blaster rifle mounted with a scope linked to a holorecorder. If it was a trap, they'd get recordings of faces and maybe identify some unknown rebels or Jedi. As with standard military protocol, he would have positioned himself further inside the room so no part of the blaster was sticking out the window. The entire scenario screamed "trap so we can kill a Sith". After all, an unknown individual had logged into an acolyte's account and requested a meeting, alone, with a Sith at a predetermined location and time on a planet with multiple reports of suspected Jedi activity.

When the request came to Rook's attention, he decided that he should be the one to show up. Not that command was keen on sending only one soldier along with into what was almost certainly an ambush. But Rook had pointed out that a larger team would be harder to position without drawing attention, and if it was the Jedi after all, then too many soldiers would alert them that something was amiss. Furthermore, one man with strict orders to not fire unless Rook gave the order or was incapacitated, would not trigger any sense of danger beyond that of the presence of a Sith Crusader.

Rook put a micro earpiece communicator on, carefully covering it with his plentiful hair. "Report," he growled.

"No sign of any trap or anyone looking suspicious other than one man who's been sitting on a bench for a while, looking like he's expecting someone."

"Good. Remember your orders, and maintain radio silence unless it's an emergency."

"Acknowledged."

Rook then exited the fighter, clad in his battle armor, sans forearm piece. He had decided that it would look too much like he was there for a fight if he showed up with the formidable part of his battle armor. Still, he wore his chestpiece and pauldrons, along with a plain bandoleer. A drumbeat sonic pistol was in a thigh holster, and his lightsaber was concealed underneath his bandoleer. He didn't plan on using them if it was indeed a harmless meeting, but he needed to be cautious. So he was showing up looking like a mercenary rather than a Sith. He made his way to the market, stopping to buy a piece of fruit to eat while waiting at the statue. Senses alive in search of other force sensitives, he leaned against the statue, scanning the crowd for anyone paying attention to him or looking at other people in a regular manner that suggested radio communication. The nape of his neck prickled as he sensed something. He slowly turned his head to stare at Andrew.

 

[Fang.]

Master Fang was a Watchman, and a damn good one at that, if someone wanted to get in contact with the Jedi, it usually found its way to him relatively quickly, sometimes even before the Watchmaster, with his network of connections that spread through both wild and tamed space, it would be easy for him to become an information broker, but that would involve making himself more known, something he as a Jedi Master didnt need. Still, when he had recieved the message asking for a single Jedi to meet at a certain place, he decided he would do it himself, the contact had reported that the person who had sent the request did not seem to be Sith or have any malicous intent towards the Jedi, but it still felt like it could be a trap. Besides, he needed a break from his hellish paperwork.

He walked down the streets of Naboo alone, the Jedi did not have people to spare, but The Jedi Maser was not worried, he was exceptionally skilled and had already planned an escape route should a trap occur, even if one of the Sith's High Echelon's showed up, he was confident he could escape. he was wearing his hooded disguise, wit his normal armor being worn beneath it, all of his weapons hidden carefully out of sight.

As he walked into the square he suddenly felt the onset of a dark presence, a Sith, as well as a more neutral presence he prepared for the chance of a trap but proceeded to the designated meeting point and leaned against the statue. Both presences felt closer now close enough that they were both within 30 feet of him, he kept his wits about him and noted the mercenary leaning on the adjacent side of the statue, it wouldnt be out of the ordinary for Sith to hire thugs to do their dirty work.

 

[Rector_Ras]

Ah, well I guess both of you guys sent someone., ha... I don't know if I was even expecting one side to show." he said as he stood from the bench walking between the two so he would stand just about in the middle, his voice crackling from the nerves noticeable in his speech despite his rehearsal of what he would say at this very moment. Even with his messages sent it was unlikely they would show, why would they? But they did and that was the most amazing thing.

Though if the sith sent a mercenary... " He stopped himself asking why they would do that? Mercenaries for a meeting? They might be mad about how the message was relayed but were they really so lawless? Even if they wanted him dead for it why wouldn't they come themselves? no one would stop a small party of soldiers on the hunt for a wanted man.... It made no sense so he turned to the wookie straight in the eyes hiding the nerves that had been so strong only seconds ago, hopfully hidden by the strength of thought and said "You aren't one though are you? That would make no sense... and you are here. Actually exactly here and for that to be a coincidence would be insane....

As his last words finished he pivoted on his heels to face the Jedi "You must be a Jedi right? I mean Iv never met one... but the hoods! Always some kind of hood on a jedi right? The boy gulped at the finishing of his little speech, it would go off well and this might start off well. Or they would now know who each other where and fight to the death and then he would be captured by the victor and taken likely as a prisoner for making a trap....

 

[Clayton]

The presence of the Light made itself known as Fang approached. Rook dropped his hand down to rest by the handle of the sonic blaster, shifting his weight off of the statue and back onto both his feet. What the hell was going on? Then the human approached them, obviously surprised that two had shown up. Things started to fall into place, but there were still many questions.

He growled, cutting short Andrew's stammering about Jedi and Hoods. "I'm not a mercenary, you should know that, I'm not even hiding my presence. I was, however, expecting an insurgent trap. And speaking of..." He shifted his gaze fully towards Fang for a moment before speaking again. "What are you expecting to happen by asking two people whose Orders are technically at war to meet?" He could sense the cold grip that the boy's nerves had on him. In fact, the tension in the air was almost palpable. Rook turned and took a step back, facing both Andrew and Fang. Though the Jedi's mind was likely to be shielded, he reached out telepathically, still unsure what to make of Andrew. It was that uncertainty, and the off-chance that Fang was just as out of the loop as he was that Rook risked communicating privately with a Jedi. "I take it that your order didn't set this up, unless you found the most talented actor in the galaxy..."

Jedi, Sith, woefully unprepared force-sensitive kid, he resisted the urge to shake his head. The possibility of a trap still nagged at him, and Rook didn't know if the Jedi would take the opportunity to strike, or wait and see what the human wanted. Likely whoever the Jedi had sent wouldn't be too brash as to ignore whatever the hell Andrew was after. Rook was a warrior Crusader, and part of him had wished he had passed the buck to an Inquisitor for this meeting. They enjoyed uncertain situations and meet-and-greets, and would have been better able to handle whatever this misguided attempt at diplomacy, or whatever.

However, he was not lying. The Sith and Jedi were at war still, they always would be, and while this didn't seem to be a hostile meet just yet, he still saw Fang as an enemy. One currently not attacking, but still an enemy. Rook let out a small, irritated snort. He should have sent someone other than himself.

 

[Fang.]

It took the Jedi Master mere moments after leaning against the statue to feel the dark presence of the mercenary wookie, that did not bode well, was it Sith? His question was answered quickly as a boy, apperantly the one who had summoned him here approached, speaking about how he didnt even expect one side to show, which confirmed his suspicions, but this raised questions, why had the boy summoned two opposing sides to the same location? the boy was far to genuine to be a Sith trap, and while Fang did not intend to start a fight, relations between the Jedi and Sith were not in the best place, if they ever were. That being said, Fang would not make the first move to attack. The boy rambled briefly about both sides, and clearly recognized Fang as a Jedi saying stuff about how the Jedi always wore hoods. That was when the Sith did something somewhat unexpected, speaking into Fang's mind, and, whether he meant to or not, told Fang that the Sith were not behind this and that they like him, had not known what they had been walking into. Hardly, something like this would be to risky to even attempt, especially in a public place for a single crusader. He replied into the wookie's mind.

The other things the Sith had said (outloud), Fang ignored. The Jedi Master was not interested in what the boy had expected to happen when he asked a Jedi and Sith to come to the same location, but rather what he wanted from them, what his reason for summoning them here was. I am more interestsed in what you hope to gain from us boy. Fang said evenly without being condecending towards the boy who had summoned him here. He kept his body relaxed but kept his eyes open, watching carefully should the Sith have not come alone as well as monitering escape routes should he need them. Fang was strong and a master combatant, but he wasnt sure that it would be enough if he ended up locking blades with a wookie, especially a force sensitive user of the darkside at that. Still, if it came down to it he was confident he would survive, though he hoped it wouldnt come down to a fight. So far though the Sith had seemed calm enough with no signs of wanting to fight. for now.

 

[Rector_Ras]

"Ha well uh I wasn't sure what to do with my life so you know... I decided to get both sides of the big teams to ask why I might want to sign with each of you...."

The start of the meeting seemed to not be going as great as Andrew had hoped it might. Both sides where very suspicious and seemed almost agitated towards him. The feeling put a clump in the bottom of the boy's stomach this could take a bad turn very quickly.

"I honestly waste sure either of you guys might show up... I just got my message out in the best ways I could, I wasn't sure how the Sith computer system worked in terms of who might have seen the message, I am fairly new to galactic systems. As to the rebel guy, he just seemed the most likely guy, a few slip ups and the group he was hanging with made him likely... Surprised the sith hadn't gotten to him first. But yeah... I asked you guys here so I would hopefully know who to join. I think my skills might be valuable to both sides."

 

[Clayton]

Well. This was interesting. Rook glanced sideways at Fang once more before he looked back at Andrew. "Your intrusion on our system rang some bells. We didn't even want to officially send someone because it looked like a trap. It...really looked like a trap." He gave an almost imperceptible shrug. "I guess my curiosity paid off." He figured the Jedi would be paying attention to his reasoning, but Rook did not care. Like other Sith, Fang only heard a fraction of his motives.

This kid, this interestingly bold kid, might have some worth. Various options played out in his head, some more practical avenues of bringing the boy down the path to the Dark Side than others. The presence of a Jedi complicated things, however. Some of the usual propaganda swill would be called out for the half-truths they were. No, today, in this situation, Rook would have to be honest and unusually patient.

Yet even if he explained things an spoke the truth from his reasoning and experiences, it wouldn't matter if Andrew had already made up his mind without realizing it. "It sounds like a, ah...philosophical debate could happen, but that wouldn't be of any use to you if the questions you have never get an answer. So...The first one you might have is who am I..." He paused momentarily to consider the ramifications of revealing his identity to a Jedi, but then considered the issue laughable. It's not like there were any other Wookiees in the Order. "I am Rookwrr. And now I have a question. Who are you, and why do you think either one of our Orders would be a fit for you? You're resourceful enough to contact us both, I'm sure you've found some basic information about the Sith and Jedi respectively. What questions hold you back from a decision?"